The Great Buddha's Birthday Celebration (Buddhist Calendar 2566) was held at Dai Tue Pagoda.

Attending the ceremony were Comrade Le Ngoc Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, representatives from the Provincial Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Department, the Provincial Religious Affairs Department, leaders of Nam Dan, Tuong Duong, and Nghi Loc districts; monks and nuns, and a large number of Buddhist followers from near and far.

Dai Tue Pagoda on the day of the Buddha's Birthday celebration. Photo: Huy Thu

Following a cultural program praising the Buddha, the ceremony took place in a solemn and respectful atmosphere. Venerable Thich Tho Lac, Head of the Central Culture Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Buddhist Sangha, and Abbot of Dai Tue Pagoda, read the message.Buddha's Birthday, Buddhist calendar 2566, of the Supreme Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Association, Venerable Thich Tri Quang.

Offering flowers and welcoming monks and delegates to the ceremony. Photo: Huy Thu.

The message clearly states: “This year's Buddha's Birthday season returns in a joyful atmosphere. After more than two years of social distancing measures at various levels due to the Covid-19 pandemic, right now, the children of the community...BuddhaWe must further uphold the tradition of protecting the nation and ensuring the well-being of the people, and walk hand in hand with the nation.

Every monk and nun needs to uphold their responsibilities and fulfill their duties in the spirit of: Discipline - Responsibility - Unity - Development, striving tirelessly to make Buddhism flourish, build a strong Buddhist community, continue to play an important role in national unity, and actively participate in the cause of building and protecting the Vietnamese Fatherland.”

A view of the altar during the Buddha's Birthday celebration at Dai Tue Pagoda. Photo: Huy Thu

Also at the ceremony, Venerable Thich Tri Khong - Head of the Education Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in the province - read the Buddha's Birthday Address for the year 2566 of the Buddhist calendar, delivered by the Most Venerable Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, outlining the event of the Buddha's birth and the development of Buddhism in the world.

The speech affirmed: "Today, Vesak has become a religious festival for peace of the United Nations, a sacred celebration for millions of believers worldwide."

Delegates perform the ritual of bathing the Buddha statue. Photo: Huy Thu.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Tran Thi Hien, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Nam Dan District Party Committee, affirmed the companionship of Vietnamese Buddhism throughout more than 2,000 years of nation-building and national defense; acknowledging and highly appreciating the positive contributions of Buddhism to the renewal and development of the homeland.

Especially the contribution ofDai Tue Pagodawith many Buddhist activities that benefit the nation and the people; and at the same time, we hope that monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers will continue to preserve and promote the tradition of unity, protecting the nation and ensuring peace for the people, contributing to building the homeland of the beloved President Ho Chi Minh into an increasingly prosperous and beautiful place.

Buddhist followers joyfully perform the ritual of bathing the Buddha statue. Photo: Huy Thu.

At the end of the ceremony, delegates, monks, and Buddhist followers performed the rituals of chanting scriptures, bathing the Buddha statue, and praying for peace in the country, well-being for all people, and successful completion of Buddhist affairs.

Huy Thu